Mason Mitchell had no intentions of racing at Iowa Speedway this weekend.

But after the West Des Moines Valley graduate got behind the wheel to help with testing at the track, he realized he needed to be racing Saturday.

“I’m like, gosh, I need to figure out a way to run this race,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell found a way and will make his return to the hometown track for the ARCA Racing Series Fans with Benefits 150, when he steers the No. 98 Chevrolet out of the Mason Mitchell Motorsports stable at 7:30 p.m.

“Over the weekend or so, I figured it out,” Mitchell said. “It was kind of a last-minute decision.”

Mitchell is hoping the change of plans pays off. The 24-year-old hasn't participated in an ARCA race since 2017 and was supposed to be watching and helping teammate Max Tullman this weekend as a spotter.

In fact, Mitchell was preparing for that job when he hopped in the car after the team came Iowa Speedway recently for testing. Mitchell, who had planned to do a few laps during testing, wanted to jump in so he provide some valuable intel for Tullman, a young driver getting ready for Newton.

Mitchell thought if he got on the track, he could see things and experience things other members of the team couldn't and he could pass it along to Tullman.

“I wanted to do it for him as far as helping his feedback, the lines and just getting comfortable with the car and more recognizable with that track,” Mitchell. “That was my plan all along.”

But Mitchell’s plans for this weekend changed as he raced around the 7/8-mile track during testing. It was then that Mitchell realized he could do more than just help his team to a win. He could guide them to one.

“The test went really, really well, and I just felt really good about it,” he said.

So, after the testing, he returned to West Des Moines, thought about it and went looking for some help. He said getting the financial support wasn’t hard since there are plenty of people who want to see him back on the track, which is just 30 miles away from where he grew up.

“It really wasn’t a problem at all,” Mitchell said. “It happened pretty quick and it all came together.”

Now it's shaping up to be a pretty memorable weekend for Mitchell, who grew up going to races at Newton. He was even on hand for the track’s first race in 2006. He’s raced on it five other times and even had a win on it in 2015. That’s why Mitchell calls Iowa Speedway the most important track to him in the world.

“I have a lot of hometown pride in myself in anything that we do,” Mitchell said. “And I love being from Iowa. So, having the race track there and to be able to go out there and have the fan support means everything to me.”

Mitchell said he hopes to return to racing full time at some point in his life. But for now, he’ll settle for a brief return his weekend, where he once again has high hopes.

“We’re going there with a really well prepared car,” Mitchell said. “Testing went really well. I feel extremely confident heading into the event.”